The following article was submitted by a friend of Elisha’s Riddle – John Fernan. 

In the garden of Gethsemane, many things are happening simultaneously. Worlds are colliding. The scriptural promise of salvation is being fulfilled. Jesus, finding himself in great anguish, even to the point of death, is asking his beloved disciples to keep watch with him as he prays, knowing his betrayal is near. He finds them struggling to stay awake, like a father who just put in a full day’s worth of work, now being asked to watch a movie at night with his family. It’s difficult to keep your eyes open. 

Nonetheless, his betrayers are soon at hand and a scuffle breaks out. The disciples who were momentarily in a slumber are now fully engaged, emotionally charged, and ready to defend Jesus. Specifically Peter, who the Bible says drew his sword and assaulted one of the men, resulting in his ear getting cut off.

Jesus says to him, “Put away your sword. Those who live by the sword will die by the sword.” 

You know, growing up I heard this phrase countless times. I heard it quoted directly from the Bible and I heard it put in all kinds of different interpretative packages. It always struck me as some kind of catch phrase to remind us of a karmic energy that is at hand when we choose to live in violence or aggression. However, as I continue to read that story–trying my best to paint the picture as if was there–I can’t help but think it means something different, or maybe something deeper. 

Giving God a Hand

I find it interesting that after he says those words, Jesus mentions to Peter how at any moment he can dispatch legions of angel to come to his side. I feel as If Jesus was attempting to reveal to Peter: “Don’t try and save me. Refrain from trying to ‘help me.’” As if living by the sword is one’s futile attempt of thinking there is anything we can do to “help” Jesus. 

Surely “helping” Jesus would seem like the honorable thing to do. But there is a vast difference in working with God versus trying to help God.

I’m reminded of the story of Abraham and Sarah here. A promise was made to this couple about a child. Through this child they would have many more offspring and bless the entire world. But if you’re familiar with the story, this wasn’t happening in a timeframe they liked. So they got anxious and tried to take God’s promise into their own hands. Sarah had her servant lay with Abraham to produce a child, and the whole situation turned out to bite them where the sun don’t shine!

So what does trying to help God look like in today’s culture? 

There’s another saying from Jesus that helps answer this question: “Don’t pray like the heathens,” he said, “who think they are heard for their many words!”

Many people today think: “Maybe if I just pray enough (or loud enough), God will get up off his throne!” There’s a certain language around the church world that calls people to pray “until the heavens open.” As if our prayers are what opens heaven. (Note: The heavens are open already.) 

There’s also this idea that if you want to see breakthrough happen in your life, you have to fast a certain amount of time, or do a certain amount of dedicated Bible reading. And I’m sure there are a thousand other examples where we are told that if we want God to move, or change a situation, then there is something we must do. 

But that, unfortunately, is what I believe is living by the sword. It’s our human effort or attempt to try and help God in what he has promised or already fulfilled. 

Only death follows this type of belief. And I don’t mean physical death. I just mean absence of LIFE in all areas of our lives. This is why one of the curses that followed eating the forbidden fruit was having to produce food by our own our efforts, after which comes the eventual experience of physical death.

“By the sweat of your brow will you have food to eat until you return to the ground from which you were made. For you were made from dust, and to dust you will return.” (Genesis 3:19 NLT) 

If you live by the sword, then you shall die by it . . . The sword of human effort . . .The sword of trying to help God.

But there is a sword we are to live by.

It’s the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God. 

Who is the Word? 

Jesus.

He is the sword in which we live by! 

He does the fighting. 

He has opened up the heavens.

He is our breakthrough

He is our sword.